French farce to golden glory: How Serena turned disaster into triumph

By Chris Murphy, CNN

Updated 0922 GMT (1722 HKT) November 23, 2012

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Photos:French farce to golden glory

Turkish delight – Serena Williams ended a dominant second half of 2012 by winning the season-ending WTA Championships in Istanbul. It marked the end of a dramatic change in fortunes for the 31-year-old.

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Photos:French farce to golden glory

Back for good – After nearly a year out with a foot injury and a life-threatening blood clot on her lung, Serena returned to the Tour in June 2011, at Eastbourne. Things didn't go exactly to plan upon her return.

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Photos:French farce to golden glory

Despair in Paris – After a disappointing start to 2012, the nadir of Serena's season came with a first round French Open exit at the hands of world No. 111 Virginie Razzano. She told CNN she didn't leave her house for two days after her surprise defeat.

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Photos:French farce to golden glory

Class on grass – But Serena stormed back to form at Wimbledon where she secured her fifth singles title at the All England Club and 15th grand slam crown. She overcame a mini meltdown after losing the second set in the final when she thought to herself: "I'm never going to win another grand slam."

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Photos:French farce to golden glory

Sister act – Serena's London experience got even better a few hours after her singles win as she and Venus took the ladies doubles crown -- their fifth Wimbledon doubles title.

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Photos:French farce to golden glory

I got the power – It is Serena's power and predatory nature on court that can help to give her the edge over her opponents. Outwardly she projects an image of steel but she admits she does get nervous and apprehensive. "I'm a good actress," she says.

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Photos:French farce to golden glory

All gold – Serena didn't look back after her doubles triumph at Wimbledon, taking the singles gold at the Olympics back on the famous Centre Court.

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Photos:French farce to golden glory

Double delight – Unsurprisingly, Serena and Venus went on to claim gold in the doubles too. They confirmed to CNN they will defend their title at the Olympics in Rio in 2016.

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Photos:French farce to golden glory

New York style – Serena went on to win the final grand slam of the season at the U.S. Open, beating world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the final at Flushing Meadows. It underlined what supreme form she was in.

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Photos:French farce to golden glory

Girl power – As soon as the tennis season finished Serena and Venus visited Africa, to promote an initiative that recognizes women of all ages who have broken the mould in their respective fields.

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Story highlights

Serena Williams tells CNN how her 2012 season went from disaster to triumph

The 31-year-old didn't leave the house for two days after first round French Open defeat

Williams roared back winning Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and two Olympic golds

Serena says she is in awe of sister Venus, who also had health problems in 2012

Just 38 days separated the lowest moment in Serena Williams' 2012 season, and the undisputed highlight.

After a crushing first round defeat at the French Open to world No. 111 Virginie Razzano in May the 31-year-old was so distraught she didn't leave the house for two days.

But just over a month later Williams was hoisting her fifth Wimbledon title -- her 14th grand slam singles win -- a triumph she hadn't thought possible after a blood clot on her lung nearly ended her career prematurely.

It proved the catalyst for an all conquering end to the season, as Serena won every major title on offer, including two Olympic gold medals, in the singles and in the doubles with sister Venus, the U.S. Open and the season-ending WTA championships.

Serena Williams: Never quit

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Simply the best – Novak Djokovic lifts the trophy at the 2012 ATP World Tour Finals after beating Roger Federer in a pulsating final.

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Photos:Global appeal helps tennis beat economic downturrn

Home appeal – Local hero: Andy Murray walks out before an expectant crowd at the O2 Arena in London.

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Photos:Global appeal helps tennis beat economic downturrn

Superior setting – The setting and staging of the ATP World Tour Finals in London has won widespread praise from players and spectators.

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Photos:Global appeal helps tennis beat economic downturrn

Star appeal – A face in the crowd: Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey joined the capacity audiences in London.

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Photos:Global appeal helps tennis beat economic downturrn

Capitalism crisis – The global recession has seen protests across the western world with the Occupy movement taking root outside St Paul's Cathedral in London.

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Photos:Global appeal helps tennis beat economic downturrn

Global superstars – Tennis royalty contested the final of the WTA Championships in Istanbul with Serena Williams beating Maria Sharapova in the final.

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Photos:Global appeal helps tennis beat economic downturrn

Fan fervour – Tennis has a global appeal and these fans in Turkey had their own favorite in Russian star Maria Sharapova.

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Photos:Global appeal helps tennis beat economic downturrn

Intense rivalry – The 2012 tennis season began in earnest in January at the Australian Open. In the final, world No.1 Novak Djokovic and Spain's Rafael Nadal fought a titanic battle before the Serbian emerged on top after five marathon sets.

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"I should have been happy the last time I won Wimbledon, and then when I was in the hospital I thought I wouldn't even play tennis again, so to have that opportunity from going from that low, from the bottom to the top, it was probably the highlight of my year."

But Serena concedes her outward demeanor -- stalking the court in such intimidating, predatory fashion -- is sometimes a shield to what is really going on inside.

"I don't look at me being great or me being good," she explained. "I just am a player and I know I'm good at tennis. And I get nervous, I get apprehensive, I have all those feelings.

"I do (hide them). I'm a good actress. But I have all those emotions and feelings, which I think is completely normal. And then sometimes, I think really what helps me is I'm really strong mentally, so it helps me get through it."

If that was Serena's individual highlight of the year there is no doubt as to the collective one.

After a long absence from the women's Tour due to a foot injury and the subsequent blood clot on her lung, Serena returned to action for the first time in nearly a year at Eastbourne in June 2011.

But within three months of her comeback there was more bad news for the Williams sisters as Venus was diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome -- an autoimmune disorder that causes joint pain and can deplete energy levels.

It would be February before she returned to the Tour full time but, just like Serena, her form was patchy -- until Wimbledon arrived.

Undeniably, the famous environs of SW19 propel both Venus and Serena to a higher plane.

On the same day Serena secured the singles title, the Williams sisters took their fifth doubles crown at the All England Club -- a sign their stranglehold on the women's game is far from over.

But it was the success they shared just a few weeks later at the Olympics on the same showpiece court that meant most to Serena.

"Venus and I went through so much, her finding out about her Sjogren's disease and myself with my near-death experience in the hospital, and to share that moment on the podium and holding that gold medal was, was amazing."

The pair enjoyed their most recent Games experience so much they confirmed to CNN they'd be sticking around to defend their title at Rio in 2016.

And when they both say they enjoy each other's success as much as their own it isn't hard to believe, especially when Serena talks of her sister's first Tour victory in two years at the Luxembourg Open in October.

"Venus winning after two years is great," Serena said. "She's been through even more than I've been through.

Photos:2012 U.S. Open Women's Final

Photos:2012 U.S. Open Women's Final

2012 U.S. Open women's final – Serena Williams of the United States celebrates defeating Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 in the 2012 U.S. Open women's singles final on Sunday, September 9, in New York. See more U.S. Open action here.

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Photos:2012 U.S. Open Women's Final

2012 U.S. Open women's final – Williams celebrates her win against Azarenka.

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Photos:2012 U.S. Open Women's Final

2012 U.S. Open women's final – Williams poses with the championship trophy in front of photographers.

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Photos:2012 U.S. Open Women's Final

2012 U.S. Open women's final – Williams looks on during the women's singles final match.

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Photos:2012 U.S. Open Women's Final

2012 U.S. Open women's final – Williams celebrates match point after defeating Azarenka.

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Photos:2012 U.S. Open Women's Final

2012 U.S. Open women's final – Williams waves to the crowd before receiving the championship trophy.

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Photos:2012 U.S. Open Women's Final

2012 U.S. Open women's final – Azarenka returns a shot.

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Photos:2012 U.S. Open Women's Final

2012 U.S. Open women's final – Spectators in a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium watch the women's singles final match.

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Photos:2012 U.S. Open Women's Final

2012 U.S. Open women's final – Williams reacts strongly in her match against Azarenka.

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Photos:2012 U.S. Open Women's Final

2012 U.S. Open women's final – Williams returns a shot against Azarenka on Sunday.

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Photos:2012 U.S. Open Women's Final

2012 U.S. Open women's final – Azarenka returns a shot against Williams.

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Photos:2012 U.S. Open Women's Final

2012 U.S. Open women's final – Williams runs to make a shot against Azarenka.

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Photos:2012 U.S. Open Women's Final

2012 U.S. Open women's final – Williams slides while returning a shot.

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Photos:2012 U.S. Open Women's Final

2012 U.S. Open women's final – Azarenka emerges from the shadows.

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Photos:2012 U.S. Open Women's Final

2012 U.S. Open women's final – Williams serves during the women's singles final match.

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Photos:Serena Williams battles 'crazy hair'

Photos:Serena Williams battles 'crazy hair'

Letting her hair down – Serena Williams displays her "super crazy" hairstyle before her Cincinnati opener against Elena Daniilidou.

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Photos:Serena Williams battles 'crazy hair'

In control – The American had her tresses in control for the start of the second-round match against the Greek qualifier.

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Photos:Serena Williams battles 'crazy hair'

'80s style – But despite using what she called "an '80s scrunchie," Williams' hair soon fought its way free in the windy conditions.

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Photos:Serena Williams battles 'crazy hair'

Unprofessional styling – It didn't stop her winning, but the in-form American was frustrated after making 44 unforced errors -- which she said was "unprofessional."

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Photos:Serena Williams battles 'crazy hair'

Olympic champion – Williams has now won 35 of her last 36 singles matches, having claimed the Olympic women's title for the first time as well as defending her doubles crown with older sister Venus.

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Photos:Serena Williams battles 'crazy hair'

Sister act – Venus also won her opening match in Cincinnati, beating Olympic semifinalist Maria Kirilenko of Russia as she kept her trademark long braids safely tied up.

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"And so she's been working really hard, and I see it, I see her work really hard, and go through things that no athlete should go through and continue to play professional sport. I'm in awe of her, really."

Just as both sisters revel in the delight when the other wins, so they share the despair when the other loses.

Serena added: "I can watch her in person, but I can't watch (on television). When she played her semifinal (in Luxembourg) I was so nervous, she lost the first set and she was up, and I felt like she should have won.

"I was angry, I was angry at everybody around me, I couldn't be normal. So yeah, like when she wins, I win, I feel the same way, and when she loses, oh, I lose. I feel that loss."

Though there are 15 months between the sisters there is no doubt their watertight relationship has helped them as players throughout their career. Serena likens their bond to that of twins.

"She's done so much for me. I think one of the hardest jobs in the world is to be an older sister. And I think Venus is an amazing older sister, she was a great role model for me, and we feel each other -- I can talk to her.

"She knows exactly how I feel about so many different issues, and I love it. I love having that relationship."